Must-see restaurants in South Carolina

  • 167 Raw

    Charleston

    There are no reservations at this tiny hole-in-the-wall that unassumingly serves up the city's best seafood. People wait in lines down the block for the…

  • Edmund's Oast

    Charleston

    Occupying a gutted former hardware store in gentrifying NoMo, Charleston's highest-brow brewpub got a fancy new executive chef, Bob Cook, in 2017. The new…

  • Wicked Tuna

    South Carolina

    Murrells Inlet is full of kitschy seafooders and, at first glance, the Wicked Tuna looks no different. Guess again! You are in for a real treat at this…

  • FIG

    Charleston

    FIG is a longtime foodie favorite, and it's easy to see why: welcoming staff, efficient but unrushed service and top-notch, sustainably sourced nouvelle…

  • Bourbon

    South Carolina

    To rub elbows with state lawmakers, attorneys and other people wearing suits, pull up a chair at Bourbon's whiskey bar. The selection of more than 350…

  • Tu

    Charleston

    From the food geniuses who brought us Xiao Bao Biscuit comes this fusion place where there are no phones, no spoons and seemingly no rules. The playful,…

  • Xiao Bao Biscuit

    Charleston

    Housed in a former gas station, with exposed brick walls and concrete floor, this casual but stylish eatery hits the hipster high marks. But the food? Now…

  • Basic Kitchen

    Charleston

    With dishes like avo toast, fresh sesame kale and rainbow bowls (which come with sweet-potato noodles, veggies, herbs and Thai peanut sauce), this healthy…

  • Leon's Oyster Shop

    Charleston

    In a converted old body shop reimagined as an industrial-chic eatery, Leon's is a Charleston favorite for three distinct and delicious items: oysters,…

  • Gaulart & Maliclet

    Charleston

    Ooh la la. Locals crowd around the shared tables at this tiny spot, known as 'Fast & French,' to nibble on Gallic cheeses and sausages, fondues or nightly…

  • Anchorage

    South Carolina

    In the up-and-coming village of West Greenville, local food and booze reigns supreme, and that's particularly true at the Anchorage (impossible to miss…

  • Motor Supply Co

    South Carolina

    Not only did Motor Supply Co flip a former auto-part shop into a restaurant long before most hipsters were born, it was doing farm-to-table fare before…

  • Zero Café + Bar

    Charleston

    The kitchen at the Zero George Street hotel might be diminutive, but the dining experience provided by Food Network celebrity chef Vinson Petrillo is…

  • Circa 1886

    Charleston

    In a renovated, elegant carriage house, this is Lowcountry fine dining at its most rewarding, with healthful, seasonal offerings that reflect the region's…

  • Harold's Cabin

    Charleston

    It goes without saying that if Bill Murray is a co-owner, the place is probably dope. That's the case for this former corner store, which remains a rustic…

  • Fleet Landing

    Charleston

    Come here for the perfect Charleston lunch: a river view, a cup of she-crab soup with a splash of sherry, and a big bowl of shrimp and grits. Housed in a…

  • Leyla Fine Lebanese Cuisine

    Charleston

    A welcome respite from all the Lowcountry and fried food, this elegant Lebanese restaurant is a favorite with locals. You can't really go wrong, so you…

  • Workshop

    Charleston

    Kind of like a food court, except awesome. Workshop has kitchen space for six within the Pacific Box & Crate development, and these mini-restaurants…

  • Darling Oyster Bar

    Charleston

    Not all oysters are created equal in Charleston, but the Darling serves up the raw goodness. Its light, flavorful selections originate in places like…

  • Le Farfalle

    Charleston

    Seafood charcuterie doesn't get better than the octopus carpaccio at Le Farfalle, a breath of fresh Tuscan air with a spacious, bright dining room and…

  • Juanita Greenberg's Nacho Royale

    Charleston

    Nachos are front and center at this tasty, affordable Mexican joint on King St, and locals go wild for it with good reason. The nacho royales arrive…

  • Lewis Barbecue

    Charleston

    Lewis Barbecue is a bit north of downtown, but Charlestonians regularly venture out and line up for this oh-so-delicious meat. Favorites include the Texas…

  • Poogan's Porch

    Charleston

    It's very Charlestonian to take brunch on the terrace of this cozy but elegant two-story Victorian, where the homemade buttermilk biscuits are out of…

  • Little Jack's Tavern

    Charleston

    A classy neighborhood cocktail bar and restaurant, with one helluva hamburger (in 2017 Bon Appétit named it one of the top three burgers in America). The…

  • Ordinary

    Charleston

    Inside a cavernous 1927 bank building, this buzzy seafood hall and oyster bar feels like the best party in town. The menu is short, but the savory fare is…

  • Marina Variety Store

    Charleston

    A long-standing, down-home, greasy-spoon kinda place, with harbor views and Southern hospitality as warm as the buttermilk biscuits. Thumbs up to the…

  • Halls Chophouse

    Charleston

    Hands down the best restaurant for getting all done up, squeezing in at the bar and ordering a sizable, rare cut of steak with several glasses of Napa…

  • Grocery

    Charleston

    Set in an industrial-chic space adorned with mason jars of pickled everything, this is Charleston's farm-to-table champion, with a fiercely locavore and…

  • Aspen Grille

    South Carolina

    At Aspen Grille you can impress your palate, escape the madness and shake off the fried-seafood baskets that bind you. Sophisticated yet inviting, it…

  • Southern Belly BBQ

    South Carolina

    Pulled pork reimagined! Normally when you hit a Carolina BBQ spot, the pulled pork comes one way: pulled! But this innovative joint offers eight different…

  • Rodney Scott's BBQ

    Charleston

    Top Chef alum and legendary whole-hog pitmaster Rodney Scott's BBQ joint is regularly swarmed with fans clamoring for succulent pulled pork, fried catfish…

  • Slightly North of Broad

    Charleston

    A tried-and-true French Quarter mainstay, with a rotating menu of Lowcountry comfort dishes reinvented with flair. Best bets include the peach salad …

  • Husk

    Charleston

    The creation of acclaimed chef Sean Brock, Husk is one of the South's most buzzed-about restaurants, which can be a disadvantage. How can the food…

  • Pumpkintown Mountain Opry

    South Carolina

    This down-home country store looks like a giant, green-and-yellow gingerbread house. And after a hike up Table Rock, it's the perfect stop for a hot…

  • Chez Nous

    Charleston

    A diminutive neighborhood restaurant with a tiny, nearly illegible menu of dishes and wine hailing from southern France, northern Italy and northern Spain…

  • Cru Cafe

    Charleston

    Innovative comfort food, served in a two-story, historic home with a charming porch. This place is beloved for its healthy salads and unusual takes on…

  • Minero

    Charleston

    James Beard Award–winning chef and Charleston darling Sean Brock is behind this vibrant and affordable Mexican joint. The food to get is the tacos, which…

  • Brown Dog Deli

    Charleston

    Really tasty gourmet sandwiches, packed with fresh and creative ingredients. A favorite is the Boar's Head mesquite turkey with a brie spread, bacon,…

  • Rutledge Cab Co

    Charleston

    An unpretentious eatery set in a former service station in North Charleston, with delicious burgers that are cheap on Monday, mimosas that are cheap on…

  • Virginia's on King

    Charleston

    Delicious Southern cooking served in an elegant dining room with exposed brick, dark wood and tasteful paintings. But if you do spicy, the absolute best…